Yuvraj Singh slams ton

Young Yuvraj Singh, ignored for the ongoing series against Australia, slammed a patient 135 to help Punjab score a respectable 383 in their first innings on the second day of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Mumbai, at the Wankhede stadium, in Bombay, on Wednesday.

In reply, Mumbai, the reigning champions, were 162 for two in their first innings, with opener Vinayak Mane unbeaten with a well made 70 and night watchman Sriram Kannan batting on five when stumps were drawn.

Punjab, resuming at their overnight score of 299 for four, added 95 runs for the fifth wicket before Reetinder Sodhi was caught in the slips by Jatin Paranjape off new ball bowler Paras Mhambrey for 46.

Mhambrey, who took five wickets, bowled well with the second new ball which was taken after 90 overs. From the other end Yuvraj Singh was going great guns, playing some well timed drives and pulls off the second new ball.

Mhambrey dealt two quick blows after Sriram Kannan had Munish Sharma caught in the slips by Paranjape for two, removing Sharandeep Singh (4) and Sandeep Sanwal (2) in quick succession.

Yuvraj Singh, who was the ninth out, was at the wicket for 332 minutes and faced 209 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six. He was caught and bowled by left arm spinner Rajesh Pawar for a well made 135.

Mumbai started badly, losing Wasim Jaffer with only 12 runs on the board. But Vinayak Mane, the other opener, and Jatin Paranjpe steadied the champions with a 138-run stand till the former was out lbw to Reetinder Sodhi for 68.

Scoreboard

Punjab (1st innings) (overnight 299 for four):
R Ricky lbw R Pawar 24
V Rathore b P Mhambrey 14
A Kakkar st A Rane b R Powar 46
P Dharmani lbw P Mhambrey 68
Y Singh c and b R Pawar 135
R S Sodhi c Paranjape b Mhambrey 46
M Sharma c Paranjape b S Kannan 2
S Singh lbw Mhambrey 4
S Sanwal c A Rane b Mhambrey 2
G Singh not out 12
V Sharma c A Rane b R Pawar 0
Extras: (B2, LB9, NB19) 30
Total (all out, 117.2 overs): 383
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-68, 3-136, 4-236, 5-331, 6-334, 7-345, 8-351, 9-383.
Bowling: P Mhambrey 25-4-77-5, S Saxena 17-1-65-0, S Kannan 21-2-58-1, R Powar 25-7-57-1, R Pawar 29.2-5-115-3.

Mumbai (1st innings):
V Mane batting 70
W Jaffer lbw V Sharma 9
J Paranjape lbw Sodhi 68
S Kannan batting 5
Extras: (B1, LB3, NB6) 10
Total: (for 2 wkts, 62 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-150
Bowling: G Singh 14-3-40-0, V Sharma 11-3-27-1, S Singh 18-7-31-0, R S Sodhi 11-1-38-1, S Sanwal 8-2-22-0.

Mail Cricket Editor